Multi-units sheet-fed printing machine drive



Dec. 7, 1965 E- TAGLIASACCHI MULII-UNITS SHEET-FED PRINTING MACHINEDRIVE Filed Jui so, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Era; f: laj'amaclfDec; 7, 1965 E. TAGLIASACCHI 3,221,651

MULTI-UNITS SHEET-FED PRINTING MACHINE DRIVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July30, 1963 INVENTOR m1 h I}; lu/26M;

Dec. 7, 1965 E. TAGLIASACCHI 3,221,651

MULTI-UNITS SHEET-FED PRINTING MACHINE DRIVE Filed July 30, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,221,651 MULTI-UNITS SHEET-FED PRINTING MACHINEDRIVE Ercole Tagliasacchi, Milan, Italy, assignor to Ollicine MeccanicheCigardi S.p.A-, 0.M.C.S.A., Milan, Italy, a corporation of Italy FiledJuly 30, 1963, Ser. No. 298,639 Claims priority, application Italy, Aug.3, 1962, 15,679/ 62 2 Claims. (Cl. 101-183) This invention generallyrelates to rotary printing machines or presses of the type including asheet-feeding mechanism adapted to successively feed sheets to beprinted, a plurality of printing rotary units each provided with inkingmeans, transfer and/ or direct impression cylinders adapted forone-color printing on the successively fed sheet, and a stackingmechanism for the printed sheets adapted to receive the sheets conveyedoff the last one of said printing units upon passage of the sheetsthrough the various units for purposes of multi-color printing.

It is known to those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains that multi-color printing machines of the type referred toabove require the provision of linking means adapted to interconnect thevarious printing units in proper angular relationship so that thevarious colors will successively print on each sheet as it successivelypasses through the various units. According to one known construction,the various units are mechanically interconnected. According to anotherconstruction, electrical means are provided for phasing individuallymotor-driven units. A typical example of an improved multiunit printingmachine of such latter construction has been disclosed in my prior U.S.Patent No. 3,073,997, assigned to Oflicine Meceaniche CigardiS.p.A.-O.M.C.S.A.of Milan, Italy.

While such improved construction has proved very advantageous in big andcostly high-speed machines, the simpler mechanical interconnection ofthe various printing units, particularly by means of a singletransmission shaft arranged alongside the multi-unit machine and of gearmeans connecting said shaft to the rotary components of each individualunit, is deemed preferable in simpler construction, particularly wherethe machine consists of two or few units. Such simpler machines aregenerally provided with one variable speed motor drivingly connected tosaid one drive shaft for driving all units of the machine.

It is however known that individual operation of each unit in suchmulti-unit machines is sometimes desirable. For example, such individualoperation is required or desired for facilitating assembling ordisassembling of printing plates, for thorough washing and cleaning ofthe inking devices and of the various cylinders, and for other purposes.The possibility to perform such operations on the units individuallywill lead to a substantial timesaving, for example, however, since eachuntil will have been individually rotated, the entire printing equipmentmust then be carefully re-phased. In addition, manual rotation of theheavy rotary components of the machine is generally fatiguing anddiflicult.

'It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a newand advantageous drive system for multiunit printing machines of thetype referred to above, including mechanical components for phasing andinterconnecting the several units of the machine, and whereby animproved multi-unit machine not subject to the above and otherobjections is provided.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide, in amulti-unit printing machine of the above character including a number ofindividual printing units, a like number of individual motors eachdrivingly connected to the rotary components of one individual unit andadapted for individually driving said unit, mechanical coupling meansfor mechanically interconnecting all such units in one givenpredetermined angular relationship, coupling control means forself-adjustment of the various units in said angular relationship, andcoupling actuator means for operating said coupling means as saidrelationship is attained and in response to instruction received fromsaid coupling control means.

An object of this invention is to provide also a new and improved drivesystem for mechanical interconnection of the several printing units in amulti-unit printing machine of the above type, such system beingcombined with safety means adapted to indicate the attainment of saidpredetermined angular or phase relationship, to warn of the occurrenceof possible mechanical interconnection in which said relationship is notattained, and to prevent the printing operation by said machine in thelatter occurrence.

According to one embodiment of this invention, a multL unit machine isprovided with one main driving motor of such power as is required fordriving all units in the machine at any required service speed thereof,said main motor being permanently drivingly coupled to one unit of themachine, as other auxiliary motors as many remaining units are includedin the machine and each coupled to one of said remaining units, saidauxiliary motors being of such power as is required for driving therespective units coupled thereto at a speed substantially alike to onespeed, preferably the lowest speed, at which said main motor can driveall the units, and mechanical coupling means adapted for couplingtogether all said units upon attainment of said phase relationship, theregular service driving of all units being then performed by said mainmotor. In such embodiment, the said auxiliary motor or motors (accordingto the provision of two or more printing units in the machine) beingintended for individually running the said remaining units, for theirpreparation to service, for example.

According to another embodiment of this invention, a multi-unit machineis provided with service driving motors each coupled to one printingunit and each capable of driving the unit coupled thereto at anyrequired service speed, and mechanical coupling means adapted forcoupling together all printing units of the machine for causing all saidunits to phasedly and synchronously run together when the combined driveof all said motors is applied to all units, while each individual unitmay be driven by the individual motor coupled thereto for itspreparation to service, for example.

The first said embodiment has been proved as best adapted in theconstruction of relatively light and simple multi-unit printing machinesincluding few units, such as two or three printing units, and wherein aslight out-ofphase run due to the variable torque applied to themechanical components of the interconnection and coupling of the variousunits, may be admitted without prejudice of the regular service forwhich the machine is intended. The latter embodiment, on the other hand,has been proved as best applied to more heavy and high-speed printingmachines including a substantial number of units, and when a veryprecise phase relationship is required. As matter of fact, while suchlatter embodiment requires the provision of as many variable speed drivemotors as there are units included in the multi-unit machine, the torqueapplied to the couplings and to the various components of the mechanicalinterconnection of said units will be essentially a very small percentof the power applied to each unit, said couplings and components beingactually directed to balance the individual power of the several motorsthroughout the entire machine in regular service.

In consideration of the fact that the essential features and componentsof this invention are common to both said embodiments, this inventionwill be hereinafter described as applied to the first embodiment only,it being understood that the following description of the invention becomprehensive of said latter embodiment too, which may be readilycarried out by applying and adapting the teaching of the invention inthe light of the following disclosure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are in part obvious and inpart will be made apparent as this description proceeds, and thefeatures which are considered as characteristic of the invention will bein particular set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, both as to its construction and to its mode of operation, willbecome best apparent from the following detailed description of apreferred form of embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, forming an essential component of this disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified perspective view of a threeunitprinting-machine drive mechanism according to the invention, theprinting units components being only diagrammatically indicated as beingnot characteristic of the invention and well known in the art;

FIGURE 2 illustrates partly in side elevation and partly in sectionalview the essential components of one mechanical coupling means includedin the machine and the correlated devices;

FIGURE 3 is a front view, taken from the plane and in the directionindicated by arrows 33 in FIG. 2, of the driven component of saidcoupling means; and

FIGURE 4 diagrammatically shows the wiring and the electrical componentsof circuitry related to the first two units of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like characters and referencenumerals refer to like parts and elements throughout the severalfigures: As to its broadest aspect, the invention will be now describedwith reference to a multi-unit printing machine as diagrammaticallyshown in FIG. 1, including three either individually or jointlyoperatable printing units generally indicated at A, B and C,respectively, each conventionally constructed, and provided with rotaryprinting cylinders such as diagrammatically indicated at 10. In the formof the embodiment shown, the machine is provided with a main motor 11capable of driving all said units for the service of the machine. Suchmotor is preferably of the variable speed type and/or drivinglyconnected to the transmission components, described below, by means of astep less variator (not shown), according to current art. In view of theoperation of the new drive system of the invention, it is assumed thatsuch motor is capable of driving said components and units with at leastone given speed, which will be preferably considered the lowest speed atwhich such motor may operate.

The mechanical interconnection of all units A, B and C, according to afeature of the invention, is provided by a compound drive shaftconsisting of a number of coaxial sections 12, 12' and 12",corresponding to the number of the units; that is of three sections inthe embodiment shown. Each section is drivingly connected, such as byconventionally constructed gearings 13, to one printing unit and,therefore, each one of said shaft sections actuates a rotary componentof one printing unit. In addition, each shaft section may bemechanically coupled to the adjacent section or sections by means of amechanical coupling or clutch means, generally indicated at 14, designedfor rigidly connecting said adjacent sections for exactly concurrent,synchronous and phased rotation in one given angular relationship.

The said main motor 11 is assumed to be permanently coupled to unit A,preferably by means of said shaft section 12. The remaining units B andC are each drivingly coupled to an auxiliary motor, such as indicated at15, preferably by means of their respective shaft sections 12 and 12".Such auxiliary motors are sized and powered for running the respectiveunit at a speed adequate for individual operation thereof, particularlyfor maintenance and preparation for service purposes, said speed beingnot equal but approximate to the said one given speed at which said mainmotor 11 may run all said units upon actuation of said coupling means at14. Each coupling means 14 is connected to, and may be actuated by, anactuator means such as generally indicated at 16, which will engage thedriving and the driven components of each coupling means upon attainmentof the given angular relationship of the adjacent shaft sections.

The above essential mechanical components are combined, according to theinvention, with relative-position signalling devices as generallyindicated at 17, each device including, preferably, a cam 18 fixedlyconnected to and rotating with the impression cylinder 10 of therelative printing unit, and a cam follower 19 adapted to actuate anelectrical contactor, such as indicated at 45 in relation with firstunit A and at 46 in relation with the remaining units B and C.

According to conventional construction of multi-unit printing machinesincluding one longitudinally arranged shaft for driving all units, thegearings (such as indicated at 13) are constructed to greatly reduce thespeed from said shaft to the rotary cylinders of the units. Therefore, acomplete revolution of said cylinders will correspond to a plurality(such as six to ten, for example) of revolutions of the shaft.Therefore, since said coupling means 14 of the invention are designed,as described below, for coupling shaft section 12 to section 12', andsection 12 to section 12", in a given angular relationship of saidsections, such relationship might not correspond to the required angularrelationship between the impression cylinders of the various units A, Band C which is necessary for phasing the multi-unit machine. The saidrelative-position signalling devices 17 are designed for indicating anapproximate relative position of said cylinders at which the actuationof said coupling means will lead to the desired phase relationship ofthe various units.

The preferred construction of one of said coupling means at 14 is shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. The coupling means shown in said figures is assumed tobe the one arranged to couple section 12 to section 12' of the compoundshaft, but it will be further assumed that any other coupling meansarranged to interconnect any subsequent section to the adjacent one issimilarly constructed and operated.

Such coupling means at 14 includes a driving disk-like component 20 anda co-axial and facing driven disk-like component 21, said componentsbeing secured to or integrally formed with respective shaft sections 12and 12. The driving component 20 has a bore 22, parallel to and spacedfrom the common axis of said shaft sections, and the driven component 21has a corresponding bore at 23, which is positioned co-axial to saidbore 22 at a given angular relationship of said components 20 and 21and, therefore, of said shaft sections 12 and 12. A connecting pin 24 isslidably arranged in bore 22 and can be axially advanced into said bore23 upon attainment of said given angular relationship of said sections,for interconnection thereof. Such connecting or coupling pin 24 issecured to a grooved sleeve 25 slidably arranged about said shaftsection 12 for axial movement to-and-fro thereabout, for engaging intoand pulling out said bore 23 the said pin 24, that is for mechanicallycoupling and respectively disconnecting said sections 12 and 12' andconsequently said printing units A and B.

The said grooved sleeve 25 is engaged by one end 26 of a bell cranklever 27 appertaining to the actuator device generally indicated at 16,and which includes power means adapted to apply a resilient force indirection D on said lever 27. Such power means preferably consists of a3 conventionally constructed pressurized-air fed double-acting cylinder28 supplied by means of an air supply, such as a compressor 74, andthrough electromagnetically activated valves 49 and 50. The piston ofsaid cylinder 28 is connected to the opposite end 30 of the said bellcrank 27, which is subject to the action of spring means 29 arranged ina toggle joint-like arrangement with respect to said crank and to astationary pivot at 31 secured to the machine structure (not shown), sothat said bell crank lever and consequently said coupling means 14 isresiliently urged towards and held at either its connecting anddisconnecting position.

Both of these conditions are signalled by contactors 32 and 33,positioned to be activated by crank lever 27 in their end positions, andconnected into the drive system controlling circuitry, described belowwith reference to FIG. 4, wherein the various electrical or electricallycontrolled or activated components are shown by means of conventionalsymbols and indicated by the same numerals which, in the described FIGS.1 and 2, indicate the corresponding devices. In addition, in the diagramof FIG. 4 the reference numerals refer to various components of any samedevice such that the actuating coil and the actuated contact or contactsof any individual device are indicated by a like numeral with theaddition of a letter suffix in each case.

Said circuitry includes a relay 40 to start the main motor 11, anauxiliary relay 41 for synchronously operate all the units included inthe printing machine, and a further auxiliary relay 42 connected forindividual operation of the remaining unit, that is any unit of themachine, except the unit directly driven by the main motor to which suchfurther aux-iliary relay is electrically connected. Numeral 43 indicatesanother relay connected to an auxiliary motor 15, and at 44 there isindicated still a further auxiliary relay which is depending fromcontactors 45 and 46 activated by cam followers 19 of the abovedescribed position signalling devices 17 of FIG. 1. Such contactorsclose the associated circuits as the rotary components of adjacentprinting units are close to their predetermined angular relationship atwhich the required phasing of the units may occur. Therefore, as saidapproximate relationship is signalled by concurrent closure ofcontactors 45 and 46, the actuator device 16 may be activated byapplying pressurized air to the right end of cylinder 28 (FIG. 2) whichresiliently urges bell crank lever 27 in direction D.

Provided that the main motor is actuated for driving section 12 of thecompound shaft at the said given speed, and that the auxiliary motor 15of the adjacent printing unit is driven at a speed not equal but close(preferably slightly less) to the said given speed, the components and21 of the coupling device (FIG. 2) will slowly rotate relative to oneanother. The cams 18 of the relative position-signalling devices 17 areshaped for activating the correlated contactors so that the pressurewill be applied to the right end of actuator cylinder 28 as bores 22 and23 of said components 20 and 21 are close to their relative co-axialposition. As said slow relative rotation of said components 20 and 21progresses until bores 22 and 23 are coaxial, the pressure applied tocylinder 28 will snap the coupling pin 24 into bore 23, whereby themechanical coupling of the adjacent printing units is obtained in therequired phase relationship.

The performance of the operation of the coupling and consequent phasingof adjacent units is signalled by contactors 32 which are operated bybell crank 27 as fully displaced in direction D (FIG. 2). Suchcontactors cause the pressure applied to actuator cylinder 28 to bereleased. The coupling device is then maintained in its couplingposition by the toggle device including spring 29. The coupling of otherunits (if any) to the preceding one is performed in similar manner, assaid preceding unit has been previously coupled (as signalled byactivation of contactor 32) to its respective preceding one and has inits turn attained the said given speed.

Also in the latter embodiment of the invention, summarized above,wherein any individual printing unit is provided with its own servicemotor, the coupling process and means is similar to the one described.The various motors of the machines printing units are adjusted to run,when the coupling is to be performed, at slightly diiferent speeds sothat the components 20 and 21 of the interpositioned coupling mechanismswill rotate relatively slowly as they are approaching their relativepositions at which the bores 22 and 23 are co-axial. The operation ofthe relative-position signalling devices 17 and of the coupling meansactuator devices will be quite similar to the operation described above.

Numeral 47 indicates an auxiliary relay connected for activating thecompress-or 74 which supplies the actuator cylinder 28 of any actuatormeans included in the machine. A relay 48 closes the circuit of amagnetically operated valve 49 (shown in FIG. 2 in simplified manner,and whose coil is shown in FIG. 4) which applies the pressurized air-tothe left end of actuator cylinder 28 for disengaging the components ofthe coupling means 14, said disengaging being signalled by contactor 33,while the opposite contactor 32 will be open. The magnetically operatedvalve 50, similarly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, actuates the actuatorcylinder by supplying pressurized air to the right end of the actuatorcylinder 28. The activation of such actuating valve 50 is subject toclosing of said relay contactors 45 and 46, so that the coupling can beperformed in the desired phase relationship only.

The circuitry of FIG. 4 includes a multiple switch 52 designed forswitching the equipment either in the condition of phased andsynchronous operation of all units, or in the condition of individualrunning of each printing unit. As shown in the diagrams, such switchalternatively connects and by-passes the various relays of the describedcircuits. Upon operation of the said switch 52, by acting on apress-button contactor 53 the coupling process may be started andautomatically proceeded. The contactors 54 and 55 may be manually openedfor individually stopping the individual first and respectively seccondunit, when disengaged and individually run.

The circuitry includes also safety means for preventing any incorrectoperation of the machine, and signalling means for signalling the actualcondition of the equipment. Such means include a relay 60 fed throughsaid bell crank controlled contactor 32 and cam controlled contactors 45of the preceding unit, and 46 of the subsequent unit, said relay 60being controlled by a further cam 18. In the event that the couplingshould occur when the adjacent units are not properly phased, said relay60 will cause the activation of a warning lamp or other warning device,and of a coil 62 which may be made use of for holding up the operationof some essential component of the machine, such as the sheet feedingdevice (not shown), so that the printing machine cannot operate if theunits thereof have not been correctly phased.

On the other hand, when activated (that is when the various adjacentunits had been properly interconnected in their correct phaserelationship) said relay 60 will activate another lamp 61 whichtherefore signals that the equipment is ready for operation and cut offthe current to coil 62, so that the service of said essential componentof the machine will be prevented.

The equipment may be provided with auxiliary signalling means forvisually indicating the state of readiness of the machine for operation,and even to facilitate manual coupling of the adjacent units. Suchcoupling may be performed by acting directly, or by making use of aproper tool, on the bell crank lever 27, upon manual rotation of therotary components of the units to the required phased relative position.Such signal might include marks 71 on the cams 18 or other rotarycomponent of the units, cooperating with related stationary marks 71afor signalling the approximate relative position of phasing, and marks71' and 71a on the components 21 and of the coupling device forsignalling the exact relative position of said components at whichcoupling pin 24 may be engaged in the mating bore 23.

A further signalling lamp 75 (FIG. 4) may be connected into a circuitcontrolled by contactor 33 for warning that the various units have beendisconnected from each other. When such units have been disconnected,that is when the interpositioned coupling devices 14 are in the positionshown in FIG. 2, the individual units may be separately operated. Inparticular:

For operating the unit A, driven by the main motor 11, the contactor 76is manually closed for activating the coil of relay 42 which in turnwill activate the relay 40 connected to the main motor 11 supply circuit(not shown).

For operating any of the remaining units, the contactor 77 appertainingto the circuit of the desired unit is manually operated, so that thecoil of respective relay 43 is activated for closing the circuit (notshown) which supplies the respective auxiliary or service motordrivingly coupled to the respective remaining unit.

It is therefore believed to be evident that the present inventionincludes various advantageous features, and it will be understood, too,that each of the new features described, and any combination thereof,may also find useful application in other types of multi-unit printingmachines or apparatus differing from the one described.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting features that, fromthe standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristicsof this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and areintended to be comprehended within the spirit and meaning of equivalentsof the invention, as defined in and by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and the mode of making use thereof,what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus in which a pair of rotary units are to be connectedin a preselected angular relationship for simultaneous rotation witheach other, in combination,

shaft means comprising a pair of shaft sections, one for each rotaryunit; a pair of gear means respectively connecting said shaft sectionsto said rotary units so as to rotate said units with an angular speeddifferent from that of said shaft sections, each of said gear meansproviding the same ratio transmission between the respective shaftsection and rotary unit; coupling means cooperating with said shaftsections and being movable between a disconnected position in which saidshaft sections are free to rotate relative to each other and a connectedposition in which said coupling means fixedly connect said shaftsections in a given angular relationship for rotation with each other; apair of motor means respectively connected with said shaft sections fordriving the same, when said coupling means is in said disconnectedposition, with slightly different speeds; actuator means operativelyconnected to said coupling means for exerting, when actuated, pressureon said coupling means tending to move the latter to said connectedposition when said shaft sections are in said given angularrelationship; and means cooperating with said rotary units for sensingthe angular relationship thereof and operatively connected to saidactuator means for actuating the latter slightly before said rotaryunits reach said preselected angular position so that said couplingmeans will couple said shaft sections when the latter reach said givenangular position to connect thereby said units in said preselectedangular position for rotation with each other.

2. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said rotary unitsare mounted for rotation about parallel axes and in which said shaftmeans extends at an angle substantially normal to said axes of saidrotary units.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,219 3/1932Belluche 101184 2,705,918 4/1955 Koch 101-183 2,944,644 7/1960 Sandgren2705 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,177,826 4/1959 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN APPARATUS IN WHICH A PAIR OF ROTARY UNITS ARE TO BE CONNECTEDIN A PRESELECTED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP FOR SIMULTANEOUS ROTATION WITHEACH OTHER, IN COMBINATION, SHAFT MEANS COMPRISNG A PAIR OF SHAFTSECTIONS, ONE FOR EACH ROTARY UNIT; A PAIR OF GEAR MEANS RESPECTIVELYCONNECTING SAID SHAFT SECTIONS TO SAID ROTARY UNITS SO AS TO ROTATE SAIDUNITS WITH AN ANNULAR SPEED DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF SAID SHAFT SECTIONS,EACH OF SAID GEAR MEANS PROVIDING THE SAME RATIO TRANSMISSION BETWEENTHE RESPECTIVE SHAFT SECTION AND ROTARY UNIT; COUPLING MEANS COOPERATINGWITH SAID SHAFT SECTIONS AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A DISCONNECTEDPOSITION IN WHICH SAID SHAFT SECTIONS ARE FREE TO ROTATE RELATIVE TOEACH OTHER AND A CONNECTED POSITION IN WHICH SAID COUPLING MEANS FIXEDLYCONNECT SAID SHAFT SECTIONS IN A GIVEN ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP FOR ROTATIONWITH EACH OTHER; A PAIR OF MOTOR MEANS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED WITH